Over a thousand people converged on the streets of downtown Nanaimo, marking the hostile divide among citizens on the future of the tent city at city hall. CTV Vancouver Island reported a heavy police presence and a police vehicle was used to separate the demonstators.
Amber McGrath, a spokeswoman for encampment named "Discontent City" is calling for an emergency rally to defend the campers from a group know as the Soldiers of Odin.
Four days after the Supreme Court of BC turned down the City of Nanaimo's application for an enforcement order, the Soldiers of Odin posted on Facebook that they will "facilitate the removal of Discontent City", due to the "inaction of the authorities" and "reports of child sex trafficking", using the "rule of force". Though their page has since been taken down, members from Discontent City and the Alliance Against Displacement released a statement saying there is no reason to believe that they will not carry out their intentions.
McGrath says Discontent City residents accuse the City of Nanaimo of itself legislating and normalizing anti-homeless hatred, which the general public and hate groups like the Soldiers of Odin then pick up and run with.
In a release sent to CFAX1070, organizers from Alliance Against Displacement states that the City's attempt on Monday to justify displacement may have mobilized concerns around fire safety rather than child welfare, but their release claims the end goal was the same as the Soldiers of Odin: to intimidate, harass, and disperse the tent city. They call on the RCMP to come to the support of the residents in Discontent City to protect those who are vulnerable.
Amber McGrath noted that she has been in regular contact with the RCMP and they will be present at the counter protest to monitor the situation.
The Soldiers of Odin Vancouver Island chapter announced via Facebook that they intended to dismantle Discontent City through physical force, on Sunday afternoon.